Her nerves stretched taut, she read over the four pages Jane had written. “You’ve done a good job with this. Your history teacher will be proud of your hard work.”
Jane beamed as she gathered up her papers and closed the laptop.
Footsteps from the hallway pushed Beth’s composure to the edge. She slid a glance toward the door and stopped breathing for a few seconds. Samuel propped one shoulder against the jamb and smiled at her. Casual. Laid back. Appealing. Charming. All those words floated through her mind as she stared at him—blatantly, as if no one else was in the room.
Jane cleared her throat. “I’m going to go get ready for the movies.”
She heard the teenager’s words as though coming from afar. Every sense attuned to Samuel, Beth rose, their gazes linked. She wet her lips, then swallowed several times but nothing relieved the dryness that held her.
“I’ve missed you.”
Samuel’s words eroded her composure completely. She melted against the chair, gripping its back to keep from falling. No words came to mind.
“I’ve missed our talks.”
That statement sparked her anger like flint against a stone. “I’ve been here every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Where have you been?” There was a part of her that was amazed she had said anything to him about his avoidance of her while she was tutoring Jane. But the other part cheered her on. She knew it was for the best that they not carry their friendship to the next level, but it was so nice to feel like a real woman for once.
“Usually at my office in the church until I see you leave.”
His words caused her to blink in surprise. She didn’t know what to say to the truth.
He chuckled, raising his hand, palm outward. “I admit it. I don’t know what to do about us.”
“Us?” she squeaked out, her voice breathless.
“Yes, us. There is an us, Beth, and you can’t deny that.”
“I’m not. But we won’t go anywhere.”
“How about we just enjoy the time we have together? I need practice dating. You need practice dating.”
“We’re going to practice dating?”
He nodded. “That’s what I propose.”
The word propose sent a whole different image into her mind than what he had intended. She saw herself in a long white gown, standing before a minister who wasn’t Samuel because he was next to her, holding her hand. “I guess that wouldn’t hurt us. I’ve had fun on our two dates.”
“Then let’s make it a third one. Jesse has invited me to a dinner at her house.”
“She has?” Beth clenched the wooden slat on the back of the chair, determined to leave soon and have a word with her friend.
“Yes, she said something about inviting you and I told her I would, since I knew you would be here today.”
“Do you know what one of Jesse’s little dinner parties means?”
His eyes twinkled. “Yes, I’ve heard rumors. That’s why I thought I would make it easy on her and invite you myself.”
“You’re too kind. I would have made her sweat some.”
“I thought about doing that, but she does a lot for the church.”
“You know the whole evening we’ll be subjected to her matchmaking schemes.”
“I think we can weather them—together.”
Together. The one word stuck in her mind and kept her from thinking of anything beyond that. Again that image of her in the long white gown popped into her mind.
Worry creased his face. “Beth?”
She pulled herself away from her riotous thoughts and said, “You don’t know Jesse when she sets her mind on something.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
Some of the tension siphoned from Beth as she took in Samuel’s smile, his relaxed stance. “True. We shouldn’t make this easy for her.”
“What do you have in mind?”
A plan began to formulate in her thoughts. She circled the table and came to stand in front of Samuel. “Let me tell you what we should do.”
Chapter Nine
“You two seem awfully chummy tonight,” Jesse said, handing Beth a platter with the steaks on it.
“We thought we would make it easier for you.”
Jesse narrowed her gaze on Beth. “You’re up to something. I can feel it.”
Beth touched her chest. “Who, me?”
“Yeah, you.” Jesse held the door open to allow Beth to exit the house first. “Last week you were avoiding him and now I can hardly keep you two apart.”
“We’ve given up fighting our feelings.”
Jesse’s eyes grew round, and she hung back by the door, her voice low as she bent toward her to ask, “You aren’t leaving this summer, then?”
“I didn’t say that. Can’t a gal date without it having to lead to anything permanent? I want to enjoy my last few months here. I enjoy being with Samuel.” Even though she and Samuel had planned to play up their attraction, Beth was discovering she wasn’t really playacting at all. She meant every word she’d said to Jesse.
Her friend’s eyes widened even more. “This doesn’t sound like you.” She stepped back. “Come to think of it, you aren’t dressed like the Beth I’ve known for years. What have you done with her?”
Beth laughed. “I’ve come to my senses. You, Darcy, Zoey and Tanya have been pushing me to wear brighter clothes, to let my hair go, to wear some makeup.” She waved a hand down her length, indicating the teal-blue capri pants with small beads dangling from the bottom and the matching top with a mandarin collar and capped sleeves.
Jesse pointed to Beth’s teal sandals. “You’ve even painted your toenails orange. You’ve never done that before.”
“Jane helped me pick out the color.”
Jesse’s mouth fell open.
“The guys are looking at us funny. We’d better take the food to them.” Beth left her friend by the back door and walked toward Samuel and Nick by the grill.
Her date’s eyes glittered dark fire as they roamed over her. She nearly stumbled, and had to catch herself before she sent the platter with their dinner flying across the deck.
With warm humor Samuel winked at her, taking the platter from her. “Is everything all right with Jesse?”
Nick glanced back at his wife. “I think you two foiled her plans for the evening.”
Samuel placed his arm about her shoulders. “That’s too bad. What plans?”
Beth marveled at how innocent he looked. She pressed her lips together to keep her laugh inside while Nick forked the top steak and flipped it onto the grill.
“You don’t know that—” Nick studied Samuel for a long moment. “You do know.”
Both of them nodded as Jesse joined the group, carrying the corn on the cob wrapped in aluminum foil.
“Okay, now that you all have had some fun with me, I have to say, Beth, I do like your new look.”
“Who says we’re having fun with you?” Samuel drew Beth even closer and gazed into her eyes. “I like your new look and your old look.”
Her stomach flip-flopped, her legs going weak. Samuel’s grip on her tightened as she began to sink from the sensations his look sent through her. “I have to admit I like this outfit, too. Your daughter has great taste.”
“Jane went with you shopping for clothes, too?” Jesse handed the corn to Nick.
“Yes.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t hear anything about it. That would have been hard to keep quiet in Sweetwater.”
Beth grinned. “That’s why we went to Lexington to shop. I didn’t want the gossip hounds to work overtime.”
“Believe me, when they see you, their tongues will be wagging, unless this is the extent of your new wardrobe.”
“No. I bought several outfits. The next one I’m wearing to church tomorrow and the third one to school on Monday.”
“Are they all like this one?” Jesse asked Samuel.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t get my own daughter to tell me what Beth bou
ght. I have to wait with the rest of you.”
Jesse planted her hands on her waist. “Beth Coleman, you’ve always been an open book. I can’t believe you are keeping secrets from us.”
“And loving every minute of it.”
Nick turned the steaks over. “Jesse will be up all night speculating.”
The scent of grilling meat and spring flowers mingled to lace the air. Beth backed up until she felt the lounge chair and sat. “You’ll just have to make the best of it, Nick. I’m sure you’ll think of something to keep yourselves entertained while losing sleep.”
Jesse burst out laughing.
“By the way, where are the kids?” Beth asked, observing Samuel moving around the chair to stand behind her. Her pulse quickened in anticipation of his touch.
“Cindy and Nate are at Gramps’s, for the whole night.”
Finally—an eternity later, in Beth’s mind—Samuel settled his hands on her shoulders. Since she had come up with the scheme to give Jesse what she wanted—Beth and Samuel together as a couple—he had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the role of her boyfriend. She had thought it would be easier than fighting all the attempts by her friend to get them together. She was having second thoughts. She enjoyed his touch too much, and since they had arrived she had felt more and more comfortable with his arm around her or his hand on her.
“Jesse has gone back inside,” Beth whispered, standing out in front of her friend’s house, the stars shining bright in the dark sky, the night air cool but pleasant, especially with Samuel’s arm around her shoulders, his warmth seeping into her to ward off any chill. “You don’t have to pretend any longer.”
“Pretend?”
“You know, that we’re a couple. Jesse isn’t looking.”
“She could be spying out one of her windows as we speak.”
“She isn’t. I think we have convinced her we’re an item, and tomorrow the whole town will know.”
“I think the whole town already thinks that.”
“They do?”
“Yeah. Yesterday Liz asked Aunt Mae when I was planning to propose.”
Beth pulled away and squared off in front of him on the sidewalk, her hands going to her waist. “Propose! We’ve only been on two dates.”
“Three.”
“Okay. Three. Honestly, the people of Sweetwater are getting worse than Jesse ever was.”
Samuel took her hands and stepped closer until little was between them, not even air. “They care about you. They want to see you happy. I think that’s sweet.”
“You don’t have to be married to be happy. I’ve been happy for the past thirty-eight years without a man. I’ve been—”
He lowered his head toward hers, cutting off the flow of her words. “I’m going to kiss you. I just wanted to warn you.”
She nodded, a slight movement before his lips crushed down onto hers. The kiss stole her breath and any rational thought she had left. Standing on her tiptoes, plastered against him, she felt transported to a realm of the senses where she focused on his smallest detail—the dimple in his left cheek, the citrus aftershave he wore, the lines at the corners of his eyes that deepened when he smiled, the gruffness of his voice, the rough texture of his hands that he built things with. She had all those little traits memorized so that she could instantly recall him when he wasn’t around.
When he drew back, resting his forehead on hers, she realized that he was as affected as she was by their kiss. She imagined if she laid her palm over his heart she would feel it beating as fast as hers was.
“That wasn’t for the benefit of anyone but you,” he whispered in the stillness.
Desperate to get control of her careening emotions, she backed away and glanced around her. “Thank goodness it’s late.”
“Yes, and I suppose we both need to get home. I have a sermon to deliver twice tomorrow.” He took her hand and began to walk toward her street.
“After the meal Jesse prepared for us, I’m glad we’re walking home.”
“And it gives me a little more time with you. Private time without others around.”
“Are you talking about Allie earlier this evening riding her bike alongside us as we walked over to Jesse’s?”
“Not quite what someone would expect on a third date, but Allie was dying to come along and see you. I think she’s jealous that Jane steals so much of your time when you’re over at our house. Allie even told me the other day she needed tutoring.”
“She does? I thought she got all A’s.”
“She had one B on her report card last time. I think she’ll survive, but she said it right after you and Jane returned from Lexington.”
“I’ll try and plan something special with just me and her.”
“You don’t have to, Beth.” His grasp on her hand tightened, drawing her closer to his side as they walked.
“I want to. Allie is so sweet. She reminds me of my sister when she was that age.”
“And Jane reminds you of yourself?”
“There are similarities.”
“Then my oldest daughter should be just fine when she grows up.” Samuel paused at an intersection, looking up and down the street before crossing.
“She’s almost grown up, Samuel. It won’t be long before she’s eighteen and heading for college.”
“I know, I know. I’m not sure I’m going to like that change.”
“I’m beginning to appreciate change in my life. For so many years I tried very hard to keep everything status quo. Now I’m learning to embrace change.”
“Hence the new clothes and look?”
“Yes, as well as the plans to go to Brazil.” She had to mention her plans. She had to ground not just him but herself in what was going to come in less than two months. She’d made a commitment to herself and the Christian Mission Institute. She didn’t back down from her commitments.
Samuel turned up her oak-lined street. “What are you going to do about your house?”
“I’m keeping it. It’s finally paid for. If my sister or brothers want to come back to Sweetwater, they’ll have a place to stay.”
“What about renting it out?”
“I don’t know. I would like a place myself to come home to between assignments.” She couldn’t even explain to herself why she wasn’t doing something with her childhood home. She envisioned herself coming back to Sweetwater from time to time to renew friendships and ground herself in the place she had come from, before heading back out into the world.
“Who’s going to look after it while you’re gone?”
She stopped on the sidewalk that led to her house. “You’re full of questions tonight. I haven’t come up with anyone yet. Any suggestions?”
“I will.”
“I can’t ask you—”
He brushed his fingers over her lips. “You didn’t ask. I volunteered. Just as you did to tutor Jane. Let me do this for you. My house is almost back to normal, thanks to you. Jane’s happier than I’ve seen her in a long time. I think that’s your influence on her. I don’t have to argue with her to get her to study. She wants to. Maybe I should ask what you have done with my daughter.”
She wanted his fingers back whispering across her lips. This evening his touch had become so natural to her, as though he had been doing it for years. But she had to put a halt to the direction her thoughts were going. Dangerous territory. “I’m glad Jane is settling in. She’s forming some good friends at school, and Ryan is a wonderful young man.”
“I have to agree. Jane even spent the night at a friend’s house last night. She’s talking on the phone to her friends here in Sweetwater. She’s laughing, smiling more. I’m beginning to feel the town puts something in the water. My children haven’t been happier.”
“We’re a close community. We take care of each other.”
“That’s apparent all the time. When we need help at the church, there’s always someone to do it. Usually more than one person. Our outreach fund is healthy.”
/> “Speaking of the outreach fund, how’s the dollhouse coming for the Fourth of July auction?”
“I should be finished very soon. If I get some time this week, I’ll show you the completed house next weekend. Then the real fun begins—making the furniture, the odds and ends for the place. It’ll be a family project.”
“I’d love to help. I used to love playing with my dolls when I was growing up. It’ll bring back fond memories.”
Samuel started up the walk to Beth’s house, again reaching out and clasping her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I know Saturdays can be busy. We could work on it on Sunday afternoons after church. I can usually corral my kids then.”
The thought of doing the project with his family brought a smile to Beth’s mouth. She’d missed her own family since Daniel had left for college in January. For years she had wondered what it would be like to be free of raising children. She’d made plans for that time, but hadn’t really figured on how lonely it could be by herself in her now large house without three siblings. Once she was in Brazil, she would have plenty of people around her at the mission and a new life to learn.
“Then I’ll pencil you and your family in for the next few Sundays.” Beth stopped at the bottom of the steps that led to her porch and faced Samuel.
He took both her hands in his, bringing them up between them. “You should stay for dinner afterward. That’s the least we can do for your help.”
“I’d love to.”
“Well, then, I guess this is good night.” He began to lean toward her, hesitated, then pulled back. He squeezed her hands, then spun about and left.
Beth watched him walk away, already missing his company. He was such a good man that maybe after she was gone Jesse could find someone for him. But when she thought about Samuel dating someone else, jealousy, something she rarely felt, sprang forth, surprising her. Maybe she wouldn’t say anything to Jesse.
Gold in the Fire and Light in the Storm Page 31